Gasket clip



April 22, 1952 A. J. AUKERS ETAL 2,593,648

GASKET CLIP Filed Sept. 19, 194'? Albert J Au/refs Qaymmd A Clams/2W702i Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STAT S FFICE GASKET CLIP IllinoisApplication September 19, 1947, Serial No. 775,074

2 Claims.

This invention relates to clips for holding gaskets on mounting membersand has for its principal object a new and improved clip of this kind.

It is a main object of the invention toprovide a clip for holding agasket on the pan of an internal combustion engine during installationof the pan on the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gasket clip whichdefinitely registers the gasket with thepan.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. gasket clip whichregisters the gasket with the panand aids in registering the pan withthe crankcase of the engine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a gasket clip whichcan be manufactured at low cost without sacrificing quality and whichcan be quickly and conveniently attached to and removed from the gasketand pan.

- Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here willbe apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow,reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferredembodiment of the invention is shown by Way of example, and in whichFig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the application of theclip to the gasket and P Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view takensubstantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows and showing also a fragmentary section of the engine block;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the clip shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of clip; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the clip shown in Fig. 4.

Gaskets composed of a soft, compressible material, such as cork or afibrous composition, are frequently used to seal the joint between twoparts of a machine. Thus, for example, in an internal combustion enginea gasket is used to seal the junction line of the crankcase pan andcrankcase of the engine.

In the past it has been the practice of mechanics when installing a panon an engine, to cement the gasket to the pan usually with aquick-drying cement, such as shellac. The pan is then registered withthe motor block and stud bolts projected through the perforations in thepan and gasket and into the block to secure the pan thereto. In otherinstances, gaskets have been secured to the pan by tying them thereonwith string or thread; and also, in certain cases, clips have been usedfor this purpose.

In none of these prior art practices does the 18 projects.

means for securing the gasket to the pan aid in properly registering thepan with the motor block, and, aswill be readily appreciated, since thiswork is done underneath the car, the mechanic frequently encountereddifficulty in registering the pan with the block and oftentimes thegasket is damaged, if not ruined, during this operation.

The present invention provides a clip which contains relatively largesurfaces adapted to engage the gasket and flange on the pan, and whichalso contains lugs, preferably cylindrical, which project through theperforations in the flange and gasket to register the gasket properlywith the pan. These lugs also have conical points projecting beyond theupper portion of the gasket and adapted to enter the threaded openingsin the motor block, thereby to accurately register the gasket and panwith the block. In certain locations on the motor, such as for examplecorners, the use of a modified type of clip is advantageous, this clipbeing adapted to engage the gasket and flange at points between theperforations to securely hold the gasket thereto.

With the use of the clip of the present invention, cementing the gasketto the flange is eliminated, and the time required for this operationand the time that must be allowed for setting of the cement iseliminated.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, wherein a typical gasketand crankcase pan are illustrated by Way of example, it will be seenthat the pan H) has an outwardly projecting fiange II that is providedwith a head or lip l2 at its outermost edge. A gasket is, composed ofcork or other compressible material, is shaped to register accuratelywith the flange on the pan and contains perforations l4 through whichare projected the studs that are employed to secure the pan to a motorblock. As will be seen in Figs, 1, 2, and 3, the clip of the presentinvention comprises a main, generally U-shaped portion I5, the arms ofwhich have extensions [6 and I1 disposed at substantially right anglesthereto and brought into juxtaposition each with the other.

The extensions l6 and I1 are conveniently circular in configuration,anda post or lug I8 is fixed to the extension l6 concentricallytherewith. Extension ll contains a perforation through which the conicalpoint IQ of the lug ii are composed of a spring material, preferablysteel, of about 57 to 58 C-scale Rockwell hardness.

The arms are tensioned to urge the extensions l6 and I? together,thereby enabling them to exert a pressure on the gasket and flange toclamp the two together. in securing the gasket to the The clip l5 andextensions l6 and flange, clips, such as I5, will be registered withseveral of the perforations in the gasket, and in certain instances itmay be advantageous to use a clip in every other perforation therein.

In addition to the clip I5, a clip 20 of the type shown in Figs. 1, 4,and 5 may oftentimes be used. This clip, likewise or" generally U-shapeconfiguration and composed of spring material of the same hardness, hasextensions on the arms of the U disposed substantially at right anglesto the arms and in juxtaposition to each other. Extension 2%, which isthe lowermost extension, contains a foot 22 which is disposed at rightangles to the plane of the U and adapted to engage the under side of theflange of the pan. The y er extension 23 is plain. The arms of the clipare tensioned to urge extensions 2| and 23 together to provide clampingpressure on the gasket.

With the clips registered with the flange and gasket, the will extenddownwardly along the outer surface of the pan, and the enlarged area inengagement with the flange will keep the clip at substantially rightangles to the plane of the under surface of the flange. It will be notedthat the clip is shaped and proportioned so as to readily fit inside ofthe bead I2 and between it and the perforations in the flange.

With the gasket so secured to the flange of the pan, the mechanicelevates the pan into registration with the motor block, the conicalportions 9 of the lugs l8 entering the boltholes therein and serving toquickly bring the pan into proper registration with the block. Theconical points 19 engage the lowermost surface 39 of the motor blockprior to registration with the bolt holes 3! therein and serve to spacethe gasket away from the block during lateral movement of the pan withrespect thereto. This eliminates the possibility of tearing the gasketas by dragging it over the surface 30.

As soon as one or two stud bolts have been inserted to secure the pan tothe block, the clip is removed by bending the innermost arm downwardly,thereby to withdraw lug I8 and extension 56 from registration with thegasket and flange; and after these elements have cleared, the clip ismoved outwardly to withdraw the upper extension H from the space betweenthe gasket and surface 39.

While the clip of the present invention is primarily designed tofacilitate attaching a gasket and pan of an internal combustion engine,its use is not limited to this particular adaptation, and other uses ofthe clip are contemplated within the teachings of the invention. Thespecific design of clip illustrated is subject to modification withinthe teachings of the invention to adapt it to use with other machineelements.

It will be apparent that the clip of the present invention is possessedof many advantages. It securely binds the gasket to the machine elementwithout the use of cement, and the time required to secure these partstogether is minimized. Proper registration of the gasket with themachine part is readily secured through the use of the positioning lugswhich serve also to space the gasket away from the element on which itis to be mounted durin lateral movements required toregister the twotogether. The registering lugs serve also to properly register thegasket and machine element with another machine element, minimizing orentirely eliminating gasket damage durin this operation. The device canused repeatedly with little or no maintenance cost.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described apreferred embodiment of our invention, what we consider new and desireto have patented by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a clip for holding a gasket on an oilpan during assembly of the pan and gasket on an engine and for aligningholes in the pan and gasket with holes in the engine, comprising: aspring of rectangular cross section formed in U shape; a generallycircular extension on one arm of said spring disposed at right anglesthereto and extending therefrom away from the other arm of the spring; acylindrical boss on said circular extension extending therefrom in thedirection away from the closed end of the spring; an extension on theother arm of said spring disposed at right angles thereto and extendingacross the open end of the spring; an enlarged portion on said latterextension overlying said generally circular extension and containing aperforation into which said cylindrical boss projects; and a conicalpoint on said boss projecting beyond said enlarged portion.

2. As an article of manufacture, a clip for holding a gasket on an oilpan during assembly of the pan and gasket on an engine and foraccurately aligning holes in the gasket pan and engine, comprising: aU-shaped body composed of spring material; an extension on one arm ofsaid body disposed at right angles to the arm and extending therefromaway from the other arm; a cylindrical boss fixed on said extension andhaving a diameter enabling the boss to fit snugly in holes in the gasketand pan to accurately register the two members together; an extension onthe other arm of said body, extending across the open end thereof intojuxtaposition to said first extension; a head on said latter extensionoverlying said first extension and perforated to receive saidcylindricalboss, said spring being tensioned to urge said head towardssaid first extension; and a conical tip on said boss extending beyondsaid head to register the holes in the gasket and pan with holes in theengine.

ALBERT J. AUKERS. RAYMOND A. CHURCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Germany Nov. 12, 1997

